The Gunnison High School marching band reflects on a positive growth and successful marching season.  

The Gunnison High School’s  has seen the slow but huge increase in the interest in not only the general band program, but in the marching band as well. The band program is broken down into different sections throughout the year, marching in the fall, and pep and concert throughout the rest of the year. The band is lead and directed by Kieth Koepsel, and there are currently 20 kids enrolled in the band. 

Marching band consists of not only playing an instrument, but incorporating different marches to create visual patterns for attendees and people in attendance to see. Compared to a regular concert band, the only main difference is the professional etiquette.  This year’s senior and drum Major Udev Vijay,  has been in the marching band program since his 8th grade year.. Udev has also commented that the program lost traction when the pandemic hit,but has also commented that the popularity is slowly rising.

Udev says,”  I’m hoping to see a slightly larger band at Gunnison High School in the upcoming years”.  This year Udev Vijay had the important role of not only being the drum major, but also was an important and yet very talented trumpet player.  

The drum major is the conductor of the marching band and is usually the one that leads them onto the field.This year the marching band chose a Star Wars theme march, where they choreographed Darth Vader and the death star. The Gunnison High School marching band competed in the Colorado West competition where they took 1st place. and they also took 3rd place at regionals, where they fell short of qualifying for state by three points. Although three points short, Udev commented  that it was a way better score than the previous years, and that the future is looking bright. He also commented that the commitment of the band has been at an all time high with everyone being very committed and hardly anyone ever missing a single practice compared to the previous year with a lack of attendance.